Given a gun ride by Opie Bosson, NAVALHA, the five year old gelding by Sebring out of Afiado (Encosta De Lago) won the $30,000 Rating 65 1200 metres on Saturday at Riccarton. After running home strongly for third when resuming in the Rating 65 1300 metres on 24 August at Taupo, Navalha was ideally placed to rate an each-way chance and showed appreciation for the course at his first attempt. In a trailing position near the rail during the run, Bosson angled Navalha into daylight on straightening at the 400m and he went on to score dominantly bringing up his 3rd career win. In the race sponsored by NZB Ready To Run Sale Trainers Series, Navalha ran 1200 metres in 1:10.9 on Soft6 footing and drifted in betting to pay $3.40 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote.

Click HERE to see the race replay

“It was a very good ride and great win by Navalha,” said trainer Mark Walker. “He’s a horse that’s had niggling issues with feet and different things, but good to get another win and it won’t be his last now that he’s striding out nicely.”

“Navalha”  – winning at Riccarton 17th September 2022 – Opie Bosson aboard

NAVALHA won his first two races when he first came to New Zealand from Australia in the 2020/21 season, but then ran into a series of setbacks which curtailed his racing programme, resulting in just five race day starts during the 2021/22 season for minor placings only.

Fortuna Racing’s Director John Galvin was at New Plymouth races on the day, but was cheering his charge home via the big screen at that venue. “That was extremely satisfying to watch – there is no question that Navalha is a telented galloper, but soundness issues have conspired against him, however Mark has been very patient with him and full kudos to Mark for deciding to send the horse to Riccarton as he does appreciate the better tracks and Mark was also of the view that he would be well suited by the Riccarton chute. It was a super ride by Opie as well.”

NAVALHA (which means “Razor” in Portuguese), a 3yo Gelding by Sebring out of the Encosta de Lago Mare, Afiado, was acquired by John Galvin on the recommendation of Mark Walker, for just A$27,500 from the Inglis Digital Sale in July 2020 after having been originally acquired by his previous owners for A$475k as a yearling.

Navalha is raced by the Fortuna Navalha Syndicate, an ownership group of 57 individuals

Navalha was strapped by Hannah Lowry.